Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna was hit with an off-field yellow card after his side were thrashed by the Crusaders in Christchurch last night.
The 43-15 result left the Chiefs still needing a point from their final match against the Blues to clinch top spot in the New Zealand conference and left Tameifuna facing disciplinary action.
The Sanzar citing commissioner ruled Tameifuna had put his hands over the face and eyes of Crusaders prop Wyatt Crockett while in a 15th-minute maul, a movement described as a ``deliberate and sustained grappling head-lock action''.
Sanzar said in a press release that Tameifuna's actions had the potential to cause harm to Crockett and were contrary to good sportsmanship, deeming an off-field yellow appropriate as the incident was not acted upon by the referee.
The Chiefs' defeat was their first against New Zealand opposition for the season and meant the Crusaders have sealed a playoff place.
